The results of many years of complex use of cycle- and power-ergometry in determining the physical capacity of young athletes

Aim of the work: to assess the results of a complex use of cycle- and power-ergometry in determining the aerobic and anaerobic-aerobic performance in young athletes for the selection of criteria in predicting athletes’ sports abilities and performance results at competitions in certain sports. Materials and methods. Young athletes aged 15–16 (n = 636) took part in the study in which they represented two groups of athletes according to a training process direction: group A (n = 260) – speed-power sports (boxing, freestyle wrestling); group B (n = 376) – endurance sports (athletics, skiing, cycling, swimming). According to the results of their performance at competitions, all athletes were additionally divided into two groups: 1) a group of people who won prize places at competitions in their chosen sports – winners, 2) a group of their peers who unsuccessfully performed at competitions – outsiders. Physical working capacity was determined using two methods: cycle ergometric test PWC170 and power-ergometric test PWC170. Submaximal ergometric test PWC170 (Physical Working Capacity, PWC) is a method based on the determination of physical working capacity (load capacity) upon reaching a heart rate of 170 beats·min-1. Results. The fact of possible prediction of sports results at competitions of adolescents in sports chosen by them, depending on the nature of changes in indicators of aerobic and anaerobic-aerobic performance PWC170, was established. Examples of the performance of young athletes at competitions are given. Statistically significant differences were found in the indicators of aerobic (cycle-ergometry) and anaerobic-aerobic performance (power-ergometry) of athletes-winners and outsiders. Conclusions. A complex use of cycle- and power-ergometry allows to determine the level of contribution of each type of energy potential separately – aerobic (aerobic performance PWC170) and anaerobic-aerobic (anaerobic-aerobic performance PWC170) to the general physical working capacity (PWC). In our opinion, the level of aerobic and anaerobic-aerobic performance PWC170 (according to PWC index proposed by us) may be one of the criteria in predicting athletes’ sports abilities and performance results at competitions in certain sports.